Comparing Numbing Techniques in Mohs Micrographic Surgery
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Nerve Block, Placebo Nerve Block.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Skin Cancer Face, Skin Cancer Scalp. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Adjunct Nerve Blocks in Mohs Micrographic Surgery on the Face and Scalp
Overview
This study seeks to determine whether adjunct regional nerve blocks reduce pain and anxiety in adult patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for face and scalp skin cancers. Participants will be randomized to one of two arms: (1) placebo regional nerve block with sterile normal saline or (2) adjunct regional nerve block with lidocaine. All patients receive local infiltration with lidocaine for complete anesthesia.
Detailed description
This study is a prospective, randomized, single-center clinical trial involving adult patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery for cutaneous malignancy on the face and scalp. Patients will be randomized into one of two study arms:
1. Placebo Nerve Block Group: Placebo regional nerve block with sterile normal saline plus standard local infiltration with 0.45% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine. 2. Experimental Nerve Block Group: Regional nerve block with 0.45% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine plus standard local infiltration with 0.45% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine.
Pain scores and other perioperative outcomes will be measured to assess the impact of these anesthetic techniques on patient experience, surgical efficiency, and analgesic efficacy. Pain will be assessed using a validated 0-10 Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain imaginable. Patients will rate their pain at three time points on a printed VAS scale: (T1) after nerve block, (T2) immediately after completion of local infiltration but before surgical excision, and (T3) at the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery. Anxiety will be assessed using a validated 0-10 VAS (0 = no anxiety, 10 = worst anxiety imaginable) at the same three time points (T1, T2, and T3). Anxiety will also be assessed preoperatively (T0). Patients will be instructed on the use of these scales prior to surgery, and outcome assessors blinded to allocation will record responses verbatim at the specified intervals. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either of the study arms. Randomization will be performed using a computer-generated sequence. Allocation concealment will be maintained through sealed opaque envelopes or electronic assignment by personnel not involved in outcome assessment. The study is double-blind; neither the patient nor the clinical staff assessing outcomes will be aware of the group allocation.
Interventions
- Other Nerve Block
0.45% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine - Other Placebo Nerve Block
Sterile normal saline
Primary outcome measures
- Intraoperative Pain [Time frame: T1: After nerve block; T2: Immediately after completion of local infiltration but before surgical excision; T3: At the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Anxiety [Time frame: T0: Preoperative; T1: After nerve block; T2: Immediately after completion of local infiltration but before surgical excision; T3: At the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.]
- Needle Sticks [Time frame: During local infiltration.]
- Anesthetic Volume [Time frame: From the administration of the first nerve block to the end of stage 1.]
- Rescue Anesthesia [Time frame: Stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.]
- Patient Satisfaction [Time frame: Assessed at the end of stage 1 of Mohs micrographic surgery.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥18 years.
- Scheduled to undergo MMS.
- Lesions on the face or scalp, defined as the region superior to the mandibular margin anteriorly, superior to the external occipital protuberance posteriorly, and superior to the mastoid processes laterally.
- Tumor diameter plus anticipated stage 1 MMS margin ≥2 cm in diameter OR any tumor on the ear, lip, nose, or eyelid.
- Ability to complete patient reported outcome measures in English.
Exclusion criteria
- Known allergy or contraindication to lidocaine or epinephrine.
- Chronic opioid use or pre existing pain disorders that may interfere with pain reporting.
- Presence of scar tissue at the anatomic site of local infiltration or nerve block that may alter anesthetic penetration.
- Concurrent multi site Mohs procedure.
- Signs of skin and soft tissue infection at the anatomic site of local infiltration or nerve block.
- Inability to understand or complete pain and satisfaction assessments.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Use of sedatives or anxiolytics prior to the procedure.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine — Philadelphia
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07222241 · UPCC 10625